Our great run of weather and flat bar conditions continue, allowing for many trips out.

Snapper are still biting quite well and although their numbers aren’t as thick as in previous months, I have found the quality much better with some great snapper caught around 8-9kg only a few miles offshore. Soft plastics are once again catching 90% of them.

I still find that the Berkley Gulp range of soft plastics are performing better than others in this area. I would have to say that by the number of 7” nuclear chicken coloured Gulps brought onboard my boat they must be the biggest seller!

I have found the 5” range to be the most successful. My favourite colours are glow, pink shine and lime tiger.

On the live bait we managed to land some nice reds around 9kg all in close, along with plenty of large gold-spot cod.

It has been difficult to fish too wide as strong currents are still running. However, on the days I have managed to fish wide we have caught plenty of fish, but found the quality smaller.

Cobia are in good numbers on our close grounds, mainly hanging around bait balls.

Probably the highlight of the Straits at the moment are the massive schools of 2-3kg ‘jellybean’ tuna. They are an easy target chopping on the surface. Small slugs and light line makes for heaps of fun for the little kids and big kids. You only need to travel between Carlo Point and the bottom end of Fraser Island to find them.

There have been good catches of flathead around the mouth of Teebar Creek and Bullock Point. Summer whiting are being caught around the bottom end of Fraser Island.

Chopper tailor (smaller tailor) are being caught in good numbers early in the morning just off the beach access point at Rainbow Shores. Silver flasher lures and pilchards are doing the trick.

Dart, bream and whiting are all biting well, particularly around Double Island Point.

December should see small Spanish mackerel and large spotted mackerel about in good numbers. There will still be big snapper in close along with sweetlip (emperors) and pearl perch.

Late December is our big tourist season. There will be plenty of police and Fisheries patrols keeping things in order so please read up on size and bag limits, check all your safety gear and watch you don’t have too many ales.

Merry Christmas and a Fishy New Year to all QFM readers and my clients.

If you’d like to experience some of the sensational fishing Rainbow Beach has to offer, give me a call at Keely Rose Fishing Charters on (07) 5486 3150 or 0407 146 151, or visit www.keelyrosefishingcharters.com.au